New Bishop appointed for Nelson

(CCCB – Ottawa)... His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend John Corriveau, O.F.M.Cap., as Bishop of the Diocese of Nelson, and has appointed today as his successor the Most Reverend Gregory Bittman. At the time of his appointment, Bishop Bittman was Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton. Bishop Corriveau was Bishop of the Diocese of Nelson for the past ten years. He had submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canon Law.

Bishop Gregory Bittman was born on 5 March 1961, in Edmonton. Before his seminary studies, he had earned a diploma in nursing and a bachelor of science in nursing. In 1991 he obtained a Master's of Divinity from Christ the King Seminary, Mission, B.C., and in 2009 a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 August 1996 for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He has been an ex-officio member of the College of Consultors, the Council of Priests, the Priests' Personnel Committee, the Project Review Board and the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He has also served as spiritual director to seminarians. As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop (CCCB), Bishop Bittman has served on the Standing Committee on Canon Law as member (2014-2017) and as Chairman since 2017.

Bishop Corriveau was born on 27 July 1941, in Zurich, Ontario. He made his final vows with the Capuchin Order in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1965. On 30 November 2007, he was appointed Bishop of Nelson and installed as Bishop on 31 January 2008. As a member of the CCCB, Bishop Corriveau has served on the Permanent Council (2011-2017), on the Standing Committee for Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (2013-2016) and on the Ad hoc Committee on Kairos (2013-2016). In 2012, he was one of the delegates of the CCCB English Sector at the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the "New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith". Bishop Corriveau is a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Before being appointed Bishop, he had served from 1994 to 2006 as the Minister General of the Capuchins.

According to the CCCB 2018 Directory, the Diocese of Nelson has 54 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 78,000 served by 28 diocesan priests, four priests who are members of institutes of consecrated life, four religious Sisters who are members of religious institutes, as well as three lay pastoral workers.